Welcome to the first interview on Futureproof Fiction! Below is a conversation with Loree Draude, a former Navy combat pilot, technology executive and career coach. (Full disclosure, I met Loree as my career coach and can attest first hand to her insights and skill). But most important for this interview, Loree is professional creative artist and risk taker. She recently wrote and starred in a one-woman show called “I Feel the Need” at Edinburgh Fringe 2022 and is performing an updated version of her show at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in June 2023, including a livestreamed performance on June 15th.
SA: Loree, thank you so much for doing this interview with Futureproof Fiction. Let’s start with your background. You were one of the first female combat pilots in the US Navy. How did you start down that path?
LD: If you had told 10-year-old me I'd fly jets one day, I would have never believed it. First of all, I had no idea it was a job that women could do. I grew up in the military, as my father was a career Marine Corps Infantry officer, and my mother served in the Marines for a year, but I didn't have any exposure to the aviation side of the Marine Corps. Also, I was a quiet, somewhat shy kid, although I learned to make new friends easily because we moved at least every three years. I wasn't an adrenaline junkie, but I always loved roller coasters. I had imagined going into the military to serve my country and to travel, but I didn't know anything about flying.
When it was time for me to attend college, I enrolled in NROTC (Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps). Having been raised on military bases, I felt very comfortable with that world. I went on a field trip my freshman year of college to several military air stations in Southern California and that was when I became intrigued by aviation.
I flew for ten years in the navy, completing two deployments to the Persian Gulf onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Kitty Hawk. I completed my service with over 1600 hours of flight time and 300 carrier landings.
SA: And then you transitioned to the business world with management roles at companies like Facebook and Google. How has the tech world changed since you worked in that industry?
LD: I started in tech at the beginning of the century, a couple of years after the Dot com bust, so it's been fascinating to see the ebbs and flows of growth. When I began in tech, we were in the early stages of current ubiquitous technology like smartphones, social media, cloud computing and big data. And while AI is getting a lot of attention now, it's been under development for many years. It feels like the growth curve has taken a sharp upward turn again.
The tech industry is known for its rapid pace of innovation and disruption and that's what I've always loved about working in it. We're constantly looking to improve the world - how can we make X better? That spirit of transformation attracted me. And I think it's interesting that similarly, I've gravitated towards coaching, which is about personal, internal transformation.
SA: Technology is changing very fast. How are developments like generative AI affecting you and the people you work with?
LD: One of the most significant impacts of generative AI is the ability to automate tasks that were previously done manually, such as content creation and data augmentation. This can save time and resources for businesses and individuals, and enable them to focus on more creative or strategic tasks.
That response was generated by ChatGPT with the prompt: "How are developments like generative AI affecting you and the people you work with?" and I feel it supports my actual answer: technology developments can make our lives easier/better but they're not without potential consequences. For example, social media has been able to connect people around the world while also dividing people within a community. Nuclear power has its advantages and disadvantages. There are many exciting possibilities with generative AI, but there are also valid concerns about the spread of misinformation that should be considered and addressed.
SA: Luckily for many people like me, you shifted to a career in coaching. What is the primary lesson you pass along to the people you work with?
LD: I hope that what my clients take away from working with me is that they dream bigger than they ever have and they believe in their ability to make their dreams happen. I love seeing that light bulb go on when people recognize they are the creators of their worlds and they can make the changes they desire.
SA: That moment happened for me in our work together - realizing my options were wide open and there was room for creativity, even later in my career.
Your show at the FringeFest was a whole new venture for you. What brought on this creative outlet? And was it scary to take this leap? Scarier than flying combat missions?
LD: I've always enjoyed telling stories through writing and performing. I'm also passionate about women's rights. Since I'm comfortable doing public speaking, I thought it would be fun to do something on a stage that was more dramatic and theatrical. My story of the first west coast deployment of women in combat aviation squadrons is one that entertains and educates audiences.
As I've created and performed this show, I've been amazed at the parallels between performing a show and launching jets off an aircraft carrier. Both are productions that require a great deal of preparation, teamwork, skill and coordination. It was daunting to take this leap...but not as scary as landing a jet at night on a carrier.
SA: I’ve found that having a creative outlet (writing my book) is additive to every other part of my life including more traditional professional life and family life. Have you had a similar experience?
LD: Yes! As part of my personal growth journey, I signed up for improv classes here in NYC. The biggest lesson from the experience is the "Yes, and..." part of improv: being more open and additive in conversations and relationships. I've also enjoyed the lack of planning when doing improv and the need to stay present, focus and listen carefully. It's helped me show up better in my professional life and personal life.
SA: I agree, “Yes, and…” is a powerful frame of mind. Most things are not either/or. Many things are possible if you’re open to them. So what is next for a pilot, executive, coach and performer?
LD: I'll be performing my show at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, June 6th through 18th, and if you're not local to LA, no worries; I'll be livestreaming my performance on the 15th, although it will be a bit late in BST. I'm also publishing my second book this fall. If you're interested in hearing more about what I'm up to, please sign up for my newsletter at www.loreedraude.com.
SA: Loree, thank you for your service, and your courage to share your creativity with the world. You’re a really inspiring person, and I’m grateful to know you and to have worked with you. Thank you very much for doing the first Futureproof Fiction interview.
LD: Thank you for asking me, Steve; I'm honored to be your first interview. I look forward to reading your book!
Loree’s livestream and Futureproof happen to come out on the same day - June 15, 2023! Check them out at www.loreedraude.com and futureprooffiction.com.